ON AUGUST 12, 1999

It happened late on the night of the 12^th. I had been working all day on a paper about the "how's" and "why's" of praying and it was nearly midnight. For the last hour or so, I had been listening to my two daughters get louder and louder by the minute. It seemed the more tired they got, the giddier they became. I got up from my computer and walked into the living room where they had folded out the couch to sleep on. You see the landlord was putting in a new window in the basement where their room is (an egress window) and it was a shambles. I told them it was time to settle down and get to sleep. We said good night and I went to the kitchen to get something to drink before retiring to my bedroom upstairs.

Looking in the refrigerator, I spotted the grapefruit juice and took it out to pour a glass. As I turned to get a cup, my head suddenly began to spin and I felt faint. I remember my knees starting to buckle as I thought to myself, "What's happening to me?" Then I heard the voice of the Lord...not for first time in my life, but for the first time in a long time.

The Lord said to me, "Go back and teach your children what you have learned." It wasn't a loud demand or an ultimatum. It was simply stated in a tone that left no other solution other than to do what was asked. Now, I knew why my head was spinning...the Spirit of the Lord had come mightily upon me with a desire to manifest the teachings of Jesus through me.

I returned to the living room and stood by the girls and asked them if they had said their prayers yet tonight. They replied that they were just about to. I told them I would like to pray with them if it was all right. Then, I said there is a right way and a wrong way to pray. My eleven year old daughter, Jamie, said she was taught (by her mother and I) to start a prayer with "now I lay me down to sleep..." and, when you finished that, she said you were supposed to pray for others. I told her that I had been reading a book called "How to Pray" and in the book it asks you to sit quietly, eyes closed, and bring Jesus into the room with you before starting to pray so that He is there to listen.

We all closed our eyes and I said, "Just sit here quietly for a minute and picture Jesus. Now, imagine that Jesus is sitting with us...imagine God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost all together here with us to pray."

Jamie says, "Dad...I can see Jesus but I can't see the Holy Ghost."

"Look at Jesus" I said. "Now look through Jesus."

And before I could say more she joyously exclaimed, "I see Him now!"

It was all I could do to keep from bawling as the tears welled up in my eyes clouding my vision. I began to speak about who we are supposed to pray for...His Kingdom, the saints, the world leaders, the ministry and the churches...when suddenly both children started to fire questions at me.

From my eleven year old, "Why do we pray, dad?"

From my thirteen year old, Deana, "What should I say if I want something?"

Jamie again, "How much praying should I do? When do I know I'm done?"

Realizing this wasn't going to be a praying session but rather a learning session, I quickly said, "Whoa there, one at a time."

As we talked, I told them the things I have learned recently about praying and they listened in awe. They were entranced by the words and hanging on every sentence, eager to ask the next question. As I spoke to them, I realized that Jesus was sitting with us speaking through me to the children as He did so many times when He was working for God here on earth. It was as thrilling for Him as it was for me and I silently sang my praises to the Lord God Almighty.

When the questions finally stopped, I beckoned the children to again look to Jesus for dismissal and to thank Him for sitting with us. Then, the I-love-you's were passed back and forth with a little more meaning than usual and I remember looking at them on the couch and seeing the twinkle in their half-closed eyes. That twinkle of bright-shining Inner Light from the Holy Ghost within. I hadn't felt that good in a long, long time.

I praised the Lord mightily that night in my bed as sleep crept over me. I often fall asleep while praying. However, the Lord wasn't done with me yet...! That night I dreamt I was running like the wind. You see, I can't run any more and never will again because of my injuries. Nevertheless, the good Lord treated me that night. I ran, and ran, and ran until I was going so fast my feet left the ground and I was flying. Flying like an angel through the heavens and I felt at home...very, very much at home.